Cannabis May Treat Migraines, Finds New Study

Findings from a new study published in the journal European Journal of Pharmacology shows that cannabis may serve as an effective treatment for migraine headaches.

“Current anti-migraine treatments have limited efficacy and many side effects”, begins the abstract of the study. “Although anecdotal evidence suggests that marijuana is useful for migraine, this hypothesis has not been tested in a controlled experiment.” Thus, the present study “tested whether administration of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces anti-migraine effects in the female rat.”

The results from the study “suggest that: 1) THC reduces migraine-like pain when administered at the right dose (0.32mg/kg) and time; 2) THC’s anti-migraine effect is mediated by CB1 receptors. These findings “support anecdotal evidence for the use of cannabinoids as a treatment for migraine in humans and implicate the CB1 receptor as a therapeutic target for migraine.”

The full study, conducted by researchers at Washington State University and Washington State University Vancouver, can be found by clicking here.

Anthony Martinelli

Anthony is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog. He has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for King County (WA) Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He has been published by multiple media outlets, and is a former contributor for Village Voice Media.